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Programs & Initiatives

The FAB Alliance goals include keeping the streets clean and improving public safety; promoting Fulton Street as a destination; helping existing merchants and filling vacant spaces; enhancing the street scape and shopper experience. See below for a few initiatives underway.

Clean Streets

FAB kicked off its Sanitation Services in October 2009 when workers took to Fulton Street to empty overflowing garbage cans, sweep litter off sidewalks and remove flyers, stickers and graffiti from light posts and other street furniture. During the winter, they will be removing snow at the corners to make things easier on pedistrians. The workers are out there 6 days a week (7 days in warmer weather when more people are out) and are easily identifiable by their uniforms that have them looking... FAB! (Photo: mylittleo.com)

Graffiti Removal

FAB is works with Graffiti Free NYC to have graffiti removed from locations on buildings and security gates throughout the BID district. In addition, FAB sanitation crews remove graffiti from lamp posts, mail boxes and other street furniture. More than 300 instances of graffiti have been removed.

Street Trees

The street trees of the Fulton Street get regular watering by a contractor working for the FAB Alliance. Work crews also remove weeds, fertilize the soil and add mulch. In addition, the FAB Alliance is working with the NYC Department of Parks to get more trees installed for environmental as well as beautification benefits to the area.

Bike Racks

Working closely with the NYC Department of Transportation, FAB identified locations for new bike racks to serve the needs of the growing population of cyclists. So far over 130 new bike racks have been installed in the Clinton Hill section alone.

Recycling

FAB was one of the first to secure recycling containers once the NY City Council expanded its recycing program. Containers are installed near subway entrances at high-traffic locations along Fulton Street and public plazas.

Other environmental initiatives include: teaming up with Green Fort Greene and Clinton Hill on their initiatives to encourage environmentaly-friendly practices to reduce the use of bags, eliminate uneeded items in take-out orders and to recycle hangers at their dry cleaners; and partnering with ConEd to provide businesses with opportunities for saving on their energy costs.

Banners

Fulton Street lined with bright, colorful banners hanging from 50 light posts in Clinton Hill and Fort Greene - enhancing the vibrant retail strip and letting people know there's more things to see and do just a few blocks from where they are standing.

Public Safety

FAB coordinates with the NYPD, the Brooklyn District Attorney, Community Board and other city agencies to improve public safety in the district. FAB spearheads a coalition of groups working to mitigate quality-of-life issues at key locations; worked with Council Member James and the 88th Precinct to install security cameras that are monitored 24/7; successfully persuaded the NYC Department of Transportation (DOT) to install a traffic signal at the intersection of Waverly Avenue, near the location of a new school; also working with the DOT to improve pedestrian safety at several intersections by reducing the distance of the cross-walks and other measures. FAB is also working to increase street lighting levels where needed. Mercants in the district are connected with information on how to be safe in their stores and are updated on issues and trends they need to be aware of.

Triangle Parks and Public Spaces

Fulton Street cuts through the area at an angle creating pockets of triangle-shaped spaces that are under-utilized and present tremendous opportunities. FAB is working with city agencies, the community, local civic groups and leaders, businesses, institutions, elected officials to create valuable open space for everyone to enjoy and bring people out to support the local merchants that make the neighborhood so special.

PUTNAM TRIANGLE PLAZA (Fulton Street and Grand Avenue) An initiative to transform this vast area of concrete into a new community open space, the Putnam Triangle Plaza in Clinton Hill has the support of community leaders, the surrounding businesses, residents, institutions, elected officials and received unanimous votes of support by Community Board 2 (download the presentation). Initial discussions in the community began in June 2010. FAB brought this proposal to the NYC Department of Transportation for study and review in the fall of 2010. Community outreach and traffic studies continued through the winter and a Public Workshop was held in May 2011. Launched in September 2011 with umbrellas, moveable tables and chairs, benches and planters. New design and reconstruction scheduled Fall 2017/2018.

GATES TRIANGLE (Fulton Street and Vanderbilt) Thanks to support from Council Member Letitia James, work to enhance the area surrounding the fenced-in park is in the design phase at the NYC Department of Transportation following a vote of approval from Community Board 2. Sidewalks will be upgraded, made level and extended; addtional areas for plantings and trees will be created, curbs will be extended to improve pedestrian safety. This project does not include changes to the fenced-in area and plantings of Gates Triangle Park. Construction 2017.

7-CORNERS (Fulton Street and Greene Avenue) A project completed on the other pieces of the area known as "7-Corners" where Fulton, Greene, Hanson Place and South Oxford Streets intersect left unfinished the triangle-shaped area at the tip of Culyer-Gore Park. Again thanks to funding support from Council Member James, the sidewalks will be leveled out, additional planting areas created, pedestrian-safety enhancments added and other amenities such as benches and umbrellas are being considered. As with the Gates Triangle project, this project was supported by Community Board 2. Construction 2017.

FOWLER SQUARE (Fulton Street and Lafayette Avenue) The triangle-shaped traffic island known as Fowler Square for the statue of General Fowler at its center is slated for a redesign as public plaza as part of the NYC Plaza Program. With support of the the Fort Greene Association (a local civic organization for residents), area businesses and institutions, Community Board 2, elected officials and historians and activists responsible for saving the statue of General Fowler in the first place, the FAB Alliance submitted a proposal and was awarded the project in Round III of the NYC Plaza Program. New design and reconstruction Fall 2017.

Community input continued with Public Workshops in June 2011 created and moderated by the Pratt Center for Community Development (download the presentation). Input from those workshops, additional community outreach, plus vehicle and pedestrian traffic studies will inform the eventual size and design of the Fowler Square Plaza. (timeline: 2-3 years)

BAM TRIANGLE PARK (Fulton Street and Lafayette Avenue) Across from Fowler Square is the locked and fenced in park known as the "BAM Triangle Park" (BAM does not own or control the park, but is just across the street). This park is reportedly closed to the public because of of dangerous conditions caused by the ground sinking into what was the basement of the building that used to occupy the site and/or the water main break on St. Felix Street years ago that caused the collapse of most of the stoops and facades of the houses there.

There is a strong desire on the part of FAB and much of the community to see this park repaired, redesigned and made accessible and inviting for all to use. City and Department of Parks officials are in discussions to determine the extent of the structural problem(s) and what it would take to address them.

Marketing and Events

Building awareness of all that Fulton Street has to offer, driving foot traffic to local merchants and generating interest of entrepreneurs in the vacant spaces is a key function of the FAB Alliance. A multi-faceted approach starts with this website, extends into social media, public relations and special events.

FAB Fridays

Held on the second Friday of every month, more than 40 participating businesses create special offers, events or activities to bring people out to Fulton Street. Beyond drink and food specials, there have been theater performances in hair salons, drumming sessions in cafes, art gallery openings in the offices of a financial planner, live music on the street. FAB packages it all together as FAB Fridays and promotes all the merchants while generating positive coverage of Fulton Street as a destination.

The Holidays

FAB participates in the Borough President's promotional campaign "Shop Brooklyn" for the holiday season. By tapping into this borough-wide program, FAB extends its marketing budget and is able to support Fulton Street merchants at a key time of year. In addition, FAB collaborated with the Downtown Brooklyn Partnership on its Holiday Shopping Guide.

Holiday Lighting

Fulton Street was bright with a special new design of Holiday lighting on every block - plus the sections of Lafayette, Greene and Putnam - including large 3-D snowflakes at the Triangle Parks. (Photo: NYTImes/Local)

Free Tree Giveaways

Energizing public spaces of Fulton Street includes giving away free trees as part of the Million Trees NYC. FAB hosted this event at the Putnam Triangle with the "Greene Fort Greene/Clinton Hill". Hundreds of people came out for a free tree and left with promotional offers and coupons for Fulton Street businesses. Another promotion with Greene Fort Greene/Clinton Hill that was designed to use people's love of growing things to drive them to FAB Businesses: the annual daffodil bulb giveaway. The bulbs were available at locations along Fulton Street and were free for the taking.

Make Music NY

Another program that FAB taps into to extend its marketing reach: Make Music NY! A city-wide celebration of music on the streets of NY, MMNY comes to Fulton Street every year with an assortment of talented performers. Five locations for live music were set up for people of all ages to enjoy!

Merchant Assistance and Advocacy

FAB works on many levels to provide assistance to the small businesses that make up the district. That assistance can take the form of direct help on issues involving city regulations or agencies; connecting merchants with emergency assistance; creating cross--promotional opportunities; helping with neighborhood issues; and working with elected officials and city agencies on their behalf.

There are also a wide range of services available from other non-profits and government sources for small business and FAB brings those to the merchants by providing information on free seminars and workshops to help them and their business; referrals for pro-bono legal assistance; information and advocacy for direct loan and grant programs; tips on programs that help them save money on their electric bills - and more.

FAB also works though the NYC BID Association on issues of great concern to small businesses at city and state levels.